"AFRAID-TO-MARRY" GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 187, 27 April 1918, Page 2

"AFRAID-TO-MARRY" GIRLS

—' * •.* (By Hilda SI. Love, in the "Daily Mail.") The war lias evolved a new type of girl—the girl who-is afraid to marry. I'ou meet her mostly in the cities. Sue is attractive, knows how to wear hor clothes, how to dress her hair, keeps her hands nice, lias a bright, intelligent •siniie, can olioose a good dinner for herself, can interest as well as amuse ! you, knows tho newest books and plays, and leaves you with the impression that she is "a thoroughly good sort." She is. She is a good worker, has personality, uses her brains, is anywhere between 18 and bO years of age, and earns from two to ten pounds a week. But she is afraid to marry. Her salary holds her back. Tho "selfish bachelor" of other days, who now receives his one and sixpence a day as a "Tommy" or has married and makes ends meet on one or two "pips," has been supplanted in civil life by his sister. And she has taken unto herself his old philosophy, revels in the comforts her cash can bring her, appreciates well-cut clothes, good food, tho independence' and confidence that the knowledge of a passable income gives, and values her snug- nest ? egg. And she fears to lose it all by marriage. Here are samples of the new type: Jess, 18, earns £2 a week easily; if she cares to "mako a change" she can incfCi'.so it. I'hyllis draws £4 at congenial teu-till-livc work; Ituby, with , her bank overtime, nets a cool £6 week- j ly; Mary, raises her eyebrows if her j xiuvi'lopo contains jess than £8; and j Norah earns £500 a year. | These are not exceptional cases. Edu- j cated girls in tho twenties are earning j excellent salaries in these days. One cau meet them everywhere as heads of departments, secretaries, overseers, organisers, in all branches of commerce. They remain quite feminine notwithstanding their new importance as wageearners. 'Their society is sought after. You will see them in the theatres, in the restaurants, with their khaki and blue escorts. And being very -lovable, bright creatures the jolly companionship often merges into something deeper on the side of tho man. And so it would on tho side of the girl if it were hot for that salary of ners. Heing a woman she thinks it all out beforehand—sees the tiny house or sinail Hat that would be hers, the curtailment of lier present pleasures, the monotonous round -of cookery and housework, tho extra responsibility, the ! gradual dropping out of many desirable friendships, and, growing afraid, she says to the man, frankly, "Yes, I'm fonder of you than of anyone else, but —don't lot us talk about marriage." And in the morning she says to her girl chum, "He really is the dearest fellow, but—no money!" And thefriond shrugs her shoulders understandingly, siffhs sympathetically, and wonders not afall.' Their point of view is easy to understand. The charm of their newlywon independence is very great.